Pneumatic wheel.



J. M. 5; R. R. DENNIS.

PNEUMATIC WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

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PNEUMATIC WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911.

1,047,620, Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

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J. M. & R. R. DENNIS.

PNEUMATIC WHEEL.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911. x

1,047, 20, Patented Dec. 17,1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAIIES M. DENNIS AND RUSSELL R. DENNIS, OF CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA,ASSIGN- OBS, BY- DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS; '10 INTERNATIONAL-PNEUMATIC WHEEL COMPANY, A GORPORATION OF INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent-- Patented DBCi. 17, 1912- Applicationfiled November 23, 1911. Serial No. 661,877.

To aZZw/zom a may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES M. DENNIS and Russian. R. DENNIS, bothcitizens of the United States, residing in the city of Cambridge City,in the county of lVa-yne and State of Indiana, have invented certa n newand useful Improvements in Pneumatic Wheels,'of which the following is aspecification.

The principle of our present invention depends upon the compressibilityof air, that is to say on a plenum of air contained inan otherwisevacuity; and with means for I cont-rolling the-air under pressure, inorder to predetermine the resistance or the resiliency thereof,depending upon the weight of the body to be supported thereby.

The object of our invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a pneumaticvehiclewheel which will exceed the resilient qualities of the ordinarypneumatic tires, yet employing solidfrubber or cushioned tires on itsperiphery; at the same time providing a wheel which will be strong anddurable in construction, artistic and attractive in appearance,automatic in operation, easily assembled and repaired, and which can bemanufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

More particularly stated, our object is to provide a vehicle wheelhaving a maximum of pneumaticity and adapted tote selfinflatable: thatis. wherein the air pressure is attained and maintained bythe operationof the wheel, and maintained thereby at a desired predeterminedpressure, ,depending upon the weight to be carried by the wheel.

Another object is to provide a wheel adapted for vehicular traflic,wherein an airchamber is .prov1ded, w1th a. plurality of airpumpingdevices or mechanisms adapted to operate automatically "by therevolution of the wheel and thereby cause the air-pressure in saidair-chamber to be maintained at a .gle chamber in its hub, withaplurality of spokes acting as isodynamous air pumps for compressing airinto said chamber, thereby forming a cushion for absorbing the jarsincident to'the travel of the wheel; and a valve for controlling thedegree of air-pressure in the chamber at any predetermined degree.

One manner forthe construction of our invention, is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure -1 is a face view of'one of'ourwheels. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View ofa valve for gaging the airpressure. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of parts of our wheel,showing same in central section. Fig. l is a cross section, as taken online 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the meansfor allowing the air to escape after the pressure has reached anypredetermined degree. Fig. 6 is .a perspective View showing the interiorof the wheel hub. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of theinner-end portion of one of the spokes of our wheel- Fig. '8 is anenlarged detail view of the outer end portion of one of the spokes. Fig.9 is a cen- 'tral section of the outer end of the cylinder members of aspoke. F 10 is an isometrical view. of the inner disk of one of thespokes. And Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the outer disks. v 7

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

The central portion of our wheel is a hub comprising a thimble l whichmay revolve on the shaft A. Formed integral with and extending out atright-angles from the thimble 1 is the fixed plate 2. Extending inward,around thimble 1, from the central portion of the plate- 2, is the.collar 3. Formed through plate 2, near the outer edge thereof, are aplurality ofapertures a, each of which is adapted to receive therein abolt 4-. Extending inward from the inner face of the plate 2 are aplurality of lugs 5, all equi-distant from the center of the plate 2.Formed around in the inner face of plate 2, inside the circle formed bylugs 5, and adjoining said lugs, is a. groove 7).

"Numeral (3 denotes a removable-plate, which is of the same size as isthe fixedplate 2 of which it is a complement. Formed through the plate 6are a plurality of holes each of which is in alinement with andcorresponds with one of the holes Q,

and they are adapted to receive the other end of the respective bolts 4.The plate 6 has a central aperture therethroiigh in.

said groove 1).

which may fit thethiinble 1, allowing plate 6 to be brought to positionas in Figs. 43

groove c, being adapted to be clamped the cylinder but wi backtherethrough.

tightly in place when the bolts l are tight ened. In order to preventthe plates 2 and- 6 from being clamped too tightly, we provide a thimblefor each bolt at, as the thimbles 6, thereby allowing the bolts to bemade tight but preventing the plates from beiri It Wlll now be observedthat an air-chamber B is formed between the band 8, the sides 2 and 6,the collar 3 and the gasket. 7, which chamber extends entirely aroundthe hub. As there are twelve spokes in this particular wheel thereforewe form an equal number of apertures f through the band 8 in which arelocated the nipples 11.

o will now describe the spokes, and as they are all alike we will simplydescribe one which will answer as a description for all: Each of thespokes a complete airpump per 86, each consisting of a cylindercasing 9,having a neck portion 9 extending out from its outer end. Secured to theinnor end of cylinder casing 9 is the wedgelike head 10. The head 10 hasan aperture h thercthrough through which passes one of the bolts 4.Extending centrally into the head 10, fronithe point thereof, isan'aperture, which is at right-angles to said aperture It, into which isthreaded the hollow nipple 11, which has a nut 12 threaded onto its freeend. Also formed across in each side of the beveled portion of the head10 are the halt-round grooves 2' and j which are in alineinent with theapertures ll. Resting on the head 10, and located inside the cyl indercasing 9, is a disk 13 having notches Z;

across its flange, as in Fig. 10. Letter D- denotes an air duct leadingfrom the interior of the cylinder, through notches 7.7, and then throughnipple 11 into the air-chamber l3. Said air duct is thus placed at anangle in order to avoid the bolt l as indicated. Located in the outerend portion of the cyl inder casing 9 is the disk 14 through which is acentral aperture in which is threaded the val e 15 Which-is of anyordinary con' struction which will lpermit air to enter into Locatedaround in cyl- 9 and extending between the 14: is a; rubber cylinder 16havin a central air space therethrough.

ii assembling the'various parts of the wheel the nipples 11 are insertedthrough inder casin disks l3 and brought too near toward each other.

1 prevent its escaping the apertures f of the band 8, allowing thepoints. of the heads 10 to rest on the periphery of the band 8, afterwhich the nut 12 is run on each of the nipples thereby bringing theparts to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thus assembled it will be seenthat the point of each head 10 will be located between two of said lugsThe bolts 4 may now be inserted through the plate 2 and through theheads 10. \Ve now fill the spaces between each two of the heads 10 andone of the lugs with a rubber packing 17 which should be driven intightly to position, thereby forming dust-proof joints and also assisting in cushioning the spokes. Numeral l8 denotes the piston whichfits and is adapted to operate in the neck 9 there being a acking-head Eformed on the inner end in order to prevent the escape of air when the,piston is being, pressed inward. Formed around in the outer enlargedportion of the neck 9 is a channel in which is placed the ring packing19 through which the piston operates, said packing preventing the escapeof air therearound, this arrangement being clearly shown in Fig. 9.

In the outer end of the piston 18 is secured the ear 20 which isflattened as shown in Fig. 8, with a pivot aperture m formedthercthrough as indicated.

F denotes a band which is connected to the rim G, the latter beingadapted to carry the tire ll. Secured around in the inner periphery ofthe band F are the clips 21, in each of which is pivotcdly secured theflat portion of one of said ears 20, being connected thereto by thepivot l which passes through the aperture m.

From the above it. is apparent that both ends of each of the spokes arepivoted and that in such manner as to allow the spokes to have a limitedmovement circumferentially, that is at right angles to the shaft, but

they will not be movable in an axial dircction, that is parallel withthe shaft.

The valve may be of any desired construction suitable to retain the airpressure in the chamber at the desired degree, for instancc:-Locatedinside the main air-chamber B is the block J, which may be formedintegral with the collar 3. A threaded aperture a: extends downcentrally in an axial direction into the block J to receive therein thethreaded tap-bolt K, which has a head on its outer end, the inner endthereof being pointed. Opening out into: the aircharnber B from theinterior of block J is an air duct 3/. .;-EXtending centrally into boltK, and opening out atits inner end, is the air duct a which is adaptedto have its inner end closed. Securcrlto the outer portion of the bolt Kis a hand or poinxer Lwhose free end is adapted to move over the scaleN. Said scale and pointer should be so arranged, on the face ofihe plate6, that the out-ward as they advance upward, and that pointer willalways indicate, by its position with relation to-the scale, thecondition ot the air pressure in the. chamber B, or at least indicatingthe maximum to which the air pressure may attain in chamber B when thepointer is in a certain position.

p The device just described is of the most simple character, as I do notintend to cover -itspecifically in this application. The operaitionthereof is as follows: If the-bolt K -be run in to its limit, that iswith its point f tightly inserted in'one end of the duct y, it

is apparent that'no air under pressure can escape from the air-chamber Bthrough the duct 3 at which time the bolt K will be turned-so that thepointer L will be turned to the right so that it will point' to 120, forinstance, which will be the limit of which the air pumps will operate,thereby making it practically a solid wheel after it has run for a shortdistance. Now by turning the bolt K to the left so that the pointer willdenote 80, for instance, then the point of the bolt K will slightlyloosened in the duct y, thereby allowing a small amount of air under.pressure to escape around the point thereof and then escape out throughthe duct 2, thereby allowing the air under pressure to reach about 80pounds, or that shown by the pointer.

continuously pumping air .into the chamber,

thereby keeping up the pressure to the point desired.

Letter 8 denotes a very small inlet through i which the air is taken asthe piston is forced inward.

In practice our wheel'is to be employed in the usual manner, from whichit is apparent that as the wheel revolves, carrying a proportion ofweight ofa vehicle,'that the lower pistons 18 will be forced inward,thereby forcing the air from the cylinders into the main chamber B. Andas the wheel continues'to revolve the pistons will move withoutreleasing the air pressure is the chamber B. As soon as the air pressurehas reached to near the point shown by the in.- dicator then the airpressure will form an air cushion for the piston, thereby absorbing thejolts and j incident to the travel of the vehicle over the roadway. Bymeans of the above it is apparent that we dispense with the necessity ofthe usual pneumatic tires. It is apparent however that in the event thatno air can be used in the cylinders or the air chamber, or if itbe'desired to employ the wheel as a spring wheel without thepneumaticfeatures'then this will be possible as the inner ends of thepiston will be cushioned against the rubber cylinders 16.

It is to be understood that the air pressure may be caused to reach apressure not to exceed that. shown by the indicator, the

As the wheel revolves it is apparent that the several cylindrical spokes.are

arrangement being such that when the pressure has reached anypredetermined pressure then it will escape. In other words, by turningthe bolt K the pressure may be made to notexceed a given point.

Inthe construction of our wheel we, pro-- pose to form the several partsin such man-- nor that friction-and wear will be reduced to the minimum,for instance: \Ve propose to form the cylinders '9 of manganese bronzeand the pistons 18 of-steel however we are not to be limited-to anypar-' ticular materials or to any combinations thereof. 1

We desire that it be understood that we are not to be limited to theexact details of construction herein shown and described,

but that various changesmay be made the outer wall 01 an air-chamber, aplurality of cylinders pivoted between the plates and extending outwardtherefrom, there being du'cts leading from the interior a packinginserted between each two of'the cylinders at their pivotal connections,a cylindrical resilient member located within each cylinder, axvalvelocated at the outer end of each cylinder, a piston operative in theouter portion of each cylinder, and a pivotal ctpi nection between theouter ends of the pistons and said rim.

of each cylinder to the interior of the hub,

2. A vehicle wheel having a one-piece rim, a hub having' an air chambertherein and including a spindle, a fixed plate integral with saidspindle, a removable plate disposed around the spindle and beinga-complement of the fixed plate with which it is oppositely disposed, acollar formed integral with the spindle and the fixed plate and locatedbetween said plates, a gasket located between said collar and theremovable plate, a band extending around between the plates at adistance from said collar, a row of lugs disposed around adjoining .saidband and formed lntegral with one gt said plates, a

plurality of wedge shaped hegds located between said plates, means for cnnecting each i of said heads LO said band, means for pivoting each ofsaid needs to said-plates, a resilient packing located bet-weelreaclltwo of said heads, a cylinder secured' to each head and extendingoutward therefrom, a piston operative in each cylinder, a cushionlocated in each cylinder, and means for pivoting the outer ends of saidpistons to said rim.

3. A vehicle wheel having a one-piece rim, a hub having an air chambertherein and located normally concentric with the rim, means for pumpingair into the air chamber of the hub including a plurality of headspivoted in the outer portion of the hub and radiating therefrom, a cylinder extending from the outer portion of each head, a neck extendingoutward from each cylinder, a piston. operative in each neck, a hollowcushion located in each cylin der, there being interior communicationbetween the interior of each cushion and the air-chamber in the hub, apiston head located on the inner end of each piston, a disk closing theupper end of said cushion and with which said piston head is adapted toengage, a valve located in said disk, means for piyoti-ngfthe outer endsof the pistons to flie rim, and means for controlling the air pressurein the air chamber, substantially as set forth.

4- A vehicle wheel including the rim, a hub having an air-clnnnbertherein, the sides of said hub being formed of two COll'CSpOIMlingplates, a band separating said plates and forming the outer wall of theair-chamher, a plurality of lugs extending across between saidplates andadjoining the periphcry of said band, a plumlity of heads pivotedbetween said plate s each being disposed between two of said lugs withtheir inner ends in contact with said band, means for connecting each ofsaid heads to said band, a cylinder secured to andextcnding out from theouter end of each of said heads, there being interior comn'iunicationbetween the cylinders and said air chamber in the hub, a neck extendingout from each cylinder, a valveprcventing passage from the interior ofeach cylinder to the interior of the respective necks, a pistonoperative in each neck and adaptedv to force air in the respectivecylinders through their respective valves, means-for allowing for theescape of air from the air chamber after the pressure has attained apredetermined degree of pressure, and means for pivoting the outerendsof the pistons to the rim.

A vehicle wheel havinga one-piece rim,

a hub comprising a fixed plate and a removable plate which arecomplements of each other, a plurality of lugs arranged aroundconcentric with the plates and 10-- from each cylinder, a valvecontrolling the.

passage of air between the interior ofthe cylinder and the interior ofthe neck, a piston operative in each neck, a plurality of clips securedaround on the inner periphery of the rim, means for pivoting the outerend of each piston in one of said clips, means for pumping air into theinterior of the hub by the operation of the spokes. and meanscontrolling the air pressure in the interior of the hub.

G. A vehicle wheel having a rim, a hub which includes a fixed plate anda detachable plate, a row of lugs extending inward from one plate towardthe other plate,; a band extending around between the plates forming theouter wall ofan air-chamber, a plurality of cylinders pivoted betweenthe plates and extending outward therefrom, there being interiorcommunication between all of the cylinders and said air-chambers, apacking located between each two of the cylinders at their pivotalconnections, :1 cylindrical resilient member located within eachcylinder, :1 valvelocated at' the outer end of said cylinder, a neckprojecting out from the outer end of the cylinder, :1 piston operativein said neck, and a pivotal connection between the outer end of thepiston and the rim.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. DENNIS. RUSSELL R. DENNIS. Witnesses Rom. \V. RAxn'Ln, R. E;RANDLE.

